George Brooks

George Brooks - born 29 December 1844 in Wilstone, Tring, Hertfordshire.

Although his birth was registered as George Brooks, he was known as George Stratfull. (See what was said about this under his father William Stratford).

George grew up in the Wilstone and Long Marston area. At the tender age of 6 years he was supplementing the family income by perform straw plaiting work. It is likely that his education was little if not non-existent.

George married Drusilla Green on 9 July 1872 at Aston Clinton. By 1875 at the age of 31 years George was working on the canal as a boatman, it is probably that he was working the canals from before 1875. George had followed his father, William Stratford in to canal work. In the census if 1881, George is given as the captain of a barge named "Soap". We have not found him in the census of 1871 yet.

George and Drusilla lived in the Northolt and Harefield areas, having followed the canal southwards. They had five children. George died of phthisical bronchitis on 3 March 1885 in Hillingdon at the age of 41 years. Drusilla Stratfull remained a widow for two years before marrying John Owen who also seems to have been a canal worker.

It would appear that this line of Stratfull's began the association with St. Thomas' Church at West Hyde (near to the canal at Harefield and close to Rickmansworth). One of George and Drusillas' daughters (Ada Ann Stratfull) is buried there and it is highly likely that many others will be found with this as their final resting-place. It is known that many more recent Stratfull's from this line are at St. Thomas', including my wife Sheila's grand-parents (William John Stratfull, his wife Annie Louisa Stratfull nee Day) and Sheila's father (Edward Alfred Stratfull) plus uncles and aunts.

All the current Rickmansworth (including Maple Cross and Mill End) Stratfull's are descendants of George Stratfull and Drusilla Green.